Former Clinton Supporter Switches to Obama

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

COLUMBIA CITY, IND. -- Former Democratic National Committee chairman and former Hillary Clinton supporter, Joe Andrew, threw his support to Barack Obama today. Andrew, a superdelegate, said he made the switch from Clinton to Obama in effort to heal the Democratic Party.

"I am changing my support from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, and doing so with a heavy heart about how this process has hurt the Democratic Party, but enlightened and energized by what I have seen from Senator Obama, particularly over the past days and weeks," Andrew said.

Andrew said he is going to urge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca., and Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev., to call upon other Democratic Party leaders to back Obama. According to CBS News estimates, more superdelegates have been endorsing Obama since the Pennsylvania primary – he has picked up 11 superdelegates since April 22nd, while Clinton has nabbed six. She still leads in the overall superdelegate count, however, 263 to 244, with 288 undecided.

As he tries to win the Indiana primary and wrap up the nomination, Obama continued to court voter blocks that usually side with Clinton. The day after he lost the Pennsylvania primary, Obama said that it is more difficult for him to win over older voters than it is to win over working class Democrats.

"The problem is that, to the extent there is a problem, is that the older voters are very loyal to Senator Clinton," he said. "Part of that is they've got a track record of voting for not just Senator Clinton but also her husband."

To try and counter that, Obama campaigned in a senior citizens home here today, frequently telling stories about his grandparents.

"The reason I'm running is because I'm here only because this country gave my grandparents, and my mother and me a chance," Obama said. "They gave me a great education, they allowed my grandparents to save and build a family, that's the American dream."

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by obamasgranny May 2, 2008 7:11 PM EDT: It''s funny how all of the wimp''s are running to Obama,...what are they so afraid of? We have a "don''t ask, don''t tell" policy already!! These weak pukes,..Richardson included must be afraid of people discovering their "wide stance" and they think because Obama had Larry Sinclair that he will protect them? Just a theory,...; Reply to this comment


by libra127 May 2, 2008 5:24 PM EDT: Watch the video and you will understand why many Hoosiers have changed their candidate in the last 24 hours

Posted by daninmadison at 10:35 AM : May 02, 2008

THAT VIDEO HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE DOCTORED!!

SEE ARTICLE AT:

www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/02/clinton-adviser-claims-in_n_99810.html; Reply to this comment


by minnick8-2009 May 2, 2008 2:17 PM EDT: If we are really headed toward impending oblivion, I sincerely doubt that Obama can deliver salvation. He is after all, only a man, not God.; Reply to this comment


by DCropp May 2, 2008 1:35 PM EDT: Watch the video and you will understand why many Hoosiers have changed their candidate in the last 24 hours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-MzByUHIzw&feature=email; Reply to this comment


by ajironworks4 May 2, 2008 1:33 PM EDT: The Election is rigged against Obama , we should have seen Media coverage all over this ; the Clintons are duping us all and the media is covering this up

FEC Complaint: http://www.paulvclinton.com/FEC_complaint_123107.pdf

Complainant: Peter F. Paul

Respondents: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; Hillary Rodham Clinton for U.S. Senate Committee, Inc.; Harold Ickes, Treasurer; New York Senate 2000 Committee; Andrew Grossman, Treasurer; William Jefferson Clinton, Edward Rendell, Howard Wolfson, Kelly Craighead, David
Rosen, and James Levin,

The Lawsuit http://www.paulvclinton.com/060817_second_amended_complaint.swf; Reply to this comment


by brianbwb-2009 May 2, 2008 1:09 PM EDT: Posted by dante805

Come on, tell the truth, as far as you are concerned, Mr. Obama was done for when you got a glimpse of his complexion.

All this harping on irrelevant issues is pretty transparent, especially since all the candidates have exposed shortcomings much more serious than any you use as excuse to oppose Mr. Obama''s candidacy.

McCain is "Bush Service Pack 3", Hillary is "Bush Vista". and Mr. Obama is the only one with obvious differences from the status quo, and the status quo, as any sane person knows, is the road to impending oblivion.; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 May 2, 2008 12:09 PM EDT: Change. What change, specifically? What performance measurements are involved? What will happen if change is not produced in the first year, the second? Does someone voluntarily resign, lose pay, what? We hear inspiring rhetoric, many promises but what happens to the person if they do not produce? This applies to all the candidates. Tired of hearing of change without performance requirements, measurements, penalties. Sounds like business as usual, probably will be too.; Reply to this comment


by craigh9 May 2, 2008 11:50 AM EDT: Geez, a politician that actually is tired of the negativity of Hillary Clinton - what a fresh approach, perhaps the throng of people in here that do nothing but complain could follow his lead -
ALWAYS REMEMBER - If you always do what you always did, you''ll always get what you always got. It''s time for change, it''s time to end the political rhetoric and grandstanding - it''s time to eliminate old gaurd politicans like Hillary - VOTE OBAMA; Reply to this comment


by dante805 May 2, 2008 11:12 AM EDT: Another guilt white liberal who wants 15 minutes of fame. The RATS,including the newest ones, will start fleeing the SOS Obama after Tuesday''s results (Slick Oil Salesaman - Style Over Substance - Symbolism Over Stances). He can''t win IN and will probably only win NC by less than 5. He can''t close the deal with Rural White voters. He''s a big city liberal. Hiis small town people are Bitter ang cling to guns and religion did him in. Also his Punished with a baby over abortion has hurt and Rev Wrong way isn''t helping either. I can''t wait for the superdelegates to have to switch yet again after Hillary takes the lead in poular vote on Tuesday. LOL.; Reply to this comment


by pepperp1 May 2, 2008 10:53 AM EDT: Look Real Dems are going to turn out in Mass the next races and ripped this Obama cornation out of the hands of Dean Pelosi...get ready Ind already voting at 2 to one and when folks vote and the vote counts Obama LOOSES there are more Real Dems then Move On activist.; Reply to this comment